The increase in 2025 was the second consecutive annual rise after antibiotic use fell in 2023 to the lowest level recorded during the period analysed, at 455.1 mg/kg of biomass.
In 2020, the figure stood at 919 mg/kg, meaning antibiotic use declined by 40.2% over five years.
In absolute terms, the pig sector used 1,184.05 tonnes of active substance in 2025, 11.4% more than in 2024 but 42.4% less than in 2020, when consumption reached 2,054.16 tonnes.
Finishing accounted for the largest share of antibiotic use, at 48.4% of the total. Farrow-to-finish farms accounted for 26.1%, while nursery production represented 20.3%. Together, these three categories accounted for 94.8% of all antibiotic use.
Drinking water remained the main route of administration, accounting for 74.8% of consumption. A further 16.2% was administered through medicated feed, while 7.2% was given parenterally.
Among antibiotic classes, aminopenicillins accounted for the largest share, at 35%, followed by tetracyclines at 23.6%. Under the European Medicines Agency classification, 69.7% of consumption involved Category D antibiotics, 28.7% Category C, and 1.6% Category B.
Therapeutic use accounted for 85.7% of all prescriptions and 81.1% of actual antibiotic consumption. Metaphylactic use represented 14.15% of prescriptions and 18.9% of consumption, while prophylactic use remained negligible.
In 2025, farms belonging to integrated companies accounted for 80% of total antibiotic use in the sector, compared with 78% in 2020.
Overall, 24,147 pig farms submitted prescription data to the PRESVET system in 2025, representing 53.2% of all farms registered in REGA.
PigUA.info, based on materials from 3tres3.com